Multistage window chair



- Aug. 1, 1939. J KERBER 2,167,982

MULTISTAGE WINDOW CHAIR Filed Nov. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 1,1939. J 'KERBER 2,167,982

MULTI STAGE WINDOW CHAIR Filed Nov. 5-, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedAug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES arise PATENT OFFICE MULTISTAGE WINDOW CHAIR.

Frank J. Kerber, Chicago, 111.

Application November 3, 1937, Serial No. 172,643 Claims. (01. 304 27) Myinvention relates to a multi-stage window seat designed to be set in awindow and positioned outside the same for supporting a workman in aconvenient and comfortable position and at 5 different elevations toaccessibly and readily wash the windows, painting or repairing of theframes, or tuck pointing and the like, irrespective of the width orheight of the window.

An object of the invention is to provide a window seat in which theworkman or painter may sit comfortably or stand on wide platforms fullysupporting the feet instead of requiring the workman to stand for longhours on a narrow support or rung as of a ladder with the discomfort andill effects thereof known only too well to those accustomed to such workand procedure, and which also provides a light, inexpensive and readilyplaced seat likewise capable of easy removal, besides being safe, strongand durable even for a heavy workman without the discomforts of laddersor scaffolding in carrying on the work, and besides avoiding theexcessiveexpense of the usual staging hung from a roof or scaffolding,thereby placing the same within the 25 means of the average workman orhome owner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-stage window seatwhich gives a chair like structure or two or three stages or elevationsfor the use of the workman as found desirable 3 0, or necessaryaccording to the size of the window, frame or casement; which is easilyand firmly clamped andheld in a window irrespective of the thickness ofthe wall; which can be readily folded into a compact structure fortransportation and 35. which is light and easily manipulated.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel structure and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter morefully specified and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention in position in a window,the latter being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

'Figure 4 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 5 is a side view of the device in a partly 50 folded condition.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but completely folded.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 7-! ofFig. 2.

Figure 8 is a detailed view showing a cross brace and stop to limit thefolding of the device, and

Figure 9 is a detailed sectional perspective view taken on the line 9-9of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,It designates the window frame and l l the wall structure, both of whichmaybe of the conventional types with the usual ledge l2 and sill IS. Themulti-stage window chair comprising the invention comprises a horizontalframe Ml preferably fabricated of two spaced longitudinal sid-e bars 15such as channels I5 with their webs outwardly and their top and bottomflanges extending inwardly as shown and connected intermediately by anangle cross brace It as seen more especially in Figs. 8 and 9. The websof the bars l5 may be perforated or otherwise treated to reduce theweight.

The ends of the cross brace 16 abut the inner faces of the webs of thespaced bars 5 with the upper horizontal flange abutting the top of thebar at each side at the bottom face of its flange and the verticalflange abutting the web thereat, the two parts being rigidly connectedby angle braces l7 properly bent and riveted'thereto with the outer 'endprojecting from beneath the bottom flange of each bar to form a stop l8.The outer end portions of the bars l5 are connected by a corrugated orribbed sheet l9 secured on the top flanges of the bars,the ribs orcorrugations being provided for strength and being deep, and havingholes for draining, and inner and outer depending flanges 20 foradditional strength or stiffening; This provides a platform or seat forthe workman at a stage in line with the bottom of the frame as seen inFig. 1.

At the outside or back of the frame It! an upright frame 21 is providedcomprising side angle members 22 pivoted at their lower ends as at 23 tothe corresponding ends of forwardly inclined links 24 secured rigidly tothe rear ends of the side bars 5. The side members 22 slant backwardlytoward their upper ends when in operative position and are connectedintermediately by cross braces 25 and their upper ends are connected bya top bar 26 which keeps the back of the seat rigid and provides a rest.The upper ends of the members 22 at their inner faces are connected byarticulated joints 2'! to the outer sides of the bars l5 adjacent to thewindow frame, being composed of twolinks pivoted at their outer ends andpivotally connected to each other at 28, the upper and intermediatepivots supporting hooks 29 and 30 for supporting a pail or tools. Abovethe pivotal connections 28 adjacent the lower ends of the upper linksthereof, articulated joints 3| are pivotally connected thereto at 32 onthe outside and extend horizontally to similarly connect at 33 tointermediate points of the side members 22. These joints 3| compriselong links 34 and short links 35 pivoted together at 36 and the rear endof each long link is projected to engage a stop or pin 37 carried byeach short link to permit the joints to break or fold upwardly but tobecome rigid when in a horizontal operative position as seen in Figs. 1and 4 so as to rigidly brace the back of the seat and provide a guardstructure for the user.

Another stage is suspended beneath the frame l4 and seat H! as shown at38 to provide a rest for the feet when seated on the sheet I!) or whenstanding, or the workman may stand on the latter sheet. The sheet 38 isalso of corrugated galvanized iron or the like the same as the sheet ISwith the ends flanged as at 39 and pivotally supported by articulatejoints 40 with long lower links 4| and short upper links 42 pivotallyconnected at their lower and upper ends to incline side braces 43 andthe bars [5 respectively. The braces 43 are pivoted at 44 to the lowerforwards ends of the links 24 and have their lower ends curved as at 45to bear cushions 46 adapted to engage the outer face of the wall II ashort distance down from the sill 3. The rear or outer ends of theflanges 39 or outer edge of the sheet 38 are suspended by links 47 fromthe braces 43 in the form of articulated joints designed to foldrearwardly the same as the joints 40 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 so thatthe sheet 38 will fold compactly against the frame l4. The backstructure also folds down against the frame M with the joints 21breaking downwardly and outwardly while the joints 3| break upwardly,thus permitting the back 2| to fold against the frame |4 limited by theengagement of the lower links of the joints 2'! with the stops orprojections l8. This prevents these parts from moving over the deadcenter, from which position they may be easily extended for use.

An adjustable clamping means is provided to engage the inner face of thewall beneath the ledge l2 and inwardly of sleeves or cushions 48 boundedon the bars |5 to protect the window frame against which the bars l4rest. These clamping means are mounted on each bar I 5 and consist eachof an inverted Ill-shape frame or sleeve 49 the bight portion 50 ofwhich has a pin 5| designed to engage one of a series of spacedapertures 52 along the top flange of each bar !5. A spring 53 is bentaround a spacing pin 54 connecting the sides or legs of the member 49and the upper long end thereof engages the bottom flange of thecorresponding bar l5 while the other end of the spring fits over a pin55 to exert pressure against the bottom of the bar and hold the pin 5|in an aperture. A pin or rivet 56 also connects the sides of the members49 and prevents the spring from dropping out. The lower ends of the legsof each member 49 are brought closer together and have horizontal arms51 connected or riveted thereto as at 58 and are also U-shaped toreceive cushion sleeves 59 on the bight portions 60 thereof to preventinjury to the wall. It may also be mentioned that the joints 3| maysupport a third higher stage or platform upon which the workman may sitwhile resting his feet on the sheet l9, or he may stand thereon in caseof very high windows.

In operation, the device may be easily slipped through a window openingset up or folded partially until the lower ends of the braces 43 engagethe outer face of the wall I and then by canting the lower ends of theclamps upwardly and outwardly against the springs 53 limited by the pins56, the pins 5| will be displaced from the apertures 52, the clamps maybe slid along the bars l5 tightly against the wall II at the inside tofirmly hold the device in place and permit it to withstand a weight orjarring considerably in excess of that required in normal use withcomplete safety. Attention is also directed to the fact that by reasonof the hung or suspended platform 38, a person may step through thewindow and bring the feet to rest at a point beneath the sill instead ofin line therewith to greatly facilitate ingress and egress from and tothe seat beneath the raised window sashes, as it is thought will bereadily apparent. The device has been found in practice to sustain aweight of 1400 lbs. and still it may be compactly folded for convenienttransportation for storing L when not in use and weighs about 28 lbs.even though all of metal.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form I amaware that various modifications and changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention, the scope of which maybe determined by reference to the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A window chair including a horizontal frame, means to secure theframe to a window casement so that a considerable portion of the frameprotrudes outside the sill of the window, a platform on the latterportion, a foldable guard structure on said portion and including apivoted outer frame inclined backwardly, a foldable structure betweenthe guard structure and frame adapted to permit the former to foldtoward the latter, a foldable structure beneath the latter and includinga platform hung therefrom forwardly of the first platform and bracesinclined forwardly from the rear end of the frame to engage the outsideof a wall, and spring-held clamping means adjustably mounted on theinner portion of the frame to engage the inside of the wall to clamp thedevice thereto. 7

2. A multi-stage window chair including a horizontal frame havinglongitudinal side bars in the form of channels, said frame adapted toproject thru a window opening and outside the sill thereof, an uprightframe pivoted to the outer end of the first frame, articulated jointsconnecting the top of the upright frame to the intermediate portion ofthe horizontal frame, articulated joints connecting the intermediateportion of the upright frame to the first articulated joints and adaptedto brace the same rigidly in an extended position, foldable bracesbeneath the horizontal frame and extending from the outer end thereof ininclined position forwardly to engage the outside of a wall, articulatedjoints hung from the horizontal frame and the braces, a platformsupported thereby, a platform on the outer portion of the horizontalframe, and adjustable angular spring-held clamps on the side bars toclamp the inside of said wall.

3. A foldable window chair of the class described, having spacedhorizontal members comprising inwardly facing channel members havingapertures in the top flanges thereof, inverted U- shaped clamps slidablealong the channel members and each having a depending pin at the bightportion thereof to engage an aperture, a spring in each clamp betweenthe sides thereof to engage the bottom flanges and seat the pins in theapertures but permit release thereof by an upward rocking motion, andhorizontal bottom jaws on the lower ends of the clamps to engage theinside of a wall.

4. A window chair including a horizontal frame, means to secure theframe to a window casement so that a considerable portion of the frameprotrudes outside the sill of the window, a platform on the latterportion, a foldable guard structure on said portion and including apivoted outer frame, a foldable structure between the guard structureand frame adapted to permit the guard structure to fold toward thehorizontal frame, a foldable structure beneath the frame and including aplatform hung therefrom, braces between the frame and foldable structureto assist in supporting the hung platform and to engage the outside of awall having the window, and clamping means adjustably mounted on theinner portion of the horizontal frame to engage the inside of the wallto clamp the device thereto.

5. A multi-stage Window chair including a frame adapted to be clamped tothe bottom of a window opening and to project outside the same,including side bars, an upright frame on the outer portion of the firstframe, articulated joints between the upright frame and the intermediateportion of the first frame, articulated joints between the upright frameand the first articulated joints and adapted to support a platform abovethe frame and to fold thereagainst, foldable braces between the firstframe and the outer wall of .a building having the window opening,articulated joints hung beneath the first frame and the braces, thebraces being pivoted to the articulated joints hung from the first frameto support a platform beneath the first frame inwardly of a platformthereon, and clamps on said first frame to engage the inside of saidwall.

FRANK J. KERBER.

